Twenty-two people were killed when a tourist boat capsized in Kerala’s Malappuram district on Sunday.
According to the news agency PTI, there were more than 30 people in the boat. Malappuram collector VR Premkumar said most of the dead were children and women. 5 people in the boat swam to the shore. 10 people have been admitted to Kottakkal Hospital in critical condition.
The police have taken the owner of the boat, Nassar, into custody from Kozhikode.
Kerala Human Rights Commission has registered a case in this matter.
The commission has sought reports from Malappuram District Collector, District Police Chief and Alappuzha Port Chief Surveyor in the matter.
State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the deceased. Also ordered an inquiry into the incident.
No official statement has come so far about what caused the accident. However, according to locals, the boat was overcrowded and did not have enough life-jackets.
The accident occurred near Tuvalathiram beach in Tanur area of Malappuram district at around 7 pm on Sunday.
The boat has been brought to the shore. Regional Fire Range Officer Shiju KK said that the exact number of people aboard the boat could not be ascertained.
In such a situation, the rescue operation is being conducted in view of the possibility of more people being trapped.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the accident by tweeting. He tweeted- I am saddened by the death of people in the boat accident in Malappuram, Kerala. My condolences to the families of the deceased. The next of kin of each deceased will be given Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF.
15 of the 22 people killed in the accident have been identified. The process of postmortem of the deceased started from 6 am. Minister V Abdurrahman has told that the reason for capsizing the boat has not been revealed yet. The police is investigating the matter
President Draupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have expressed grief over the accident.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary KC Venugopal also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
